Leicester lose out in opening night thriller

Arsenal 4:3 Leicester City

Despite twice taking the lead, City went home with nothing from a thrilling season curtain-raiser at the Emirates, suffering a late collapse and losing 4-3 to Arsenal…

The last City player to score a winner at Arsenal was Mike Stringfellow, in 1973, so this trip is always made more in hope than expectation.
With Huth, Iborra and Drinkwater ruled out through injury, and Iheanacho not quite up to match fitness, it was difficult to argue with Craig Shakespeare’s first starting line-up of the season. Maguire made his debut in defence, and James started his first game for City in over two years.
However, less than two minutes into the 2017-18 season City found themselves a goal down. Elneny curled a cross into the area, and an unmarked Lacazette had time and space to direct a header past Scmeichel from ten yards.
But City responded well and were level just three minutes later. Albrighton swung in a cross from the left, Maguire nodded it back across from the goalline and Okazaki leapt the highest to head past Cech from close in.
In a lively opening spell there were chances for Oxlade-Chamberlain and Vardy as play swept from end to end.
A good passing move from Arsenal then ended with Welbeck having a goalbound shot blocked by Maguire.
Arsenal had the upper hand by this stage and threatened again when Kolasinac fired in a shot which Schmeichel tipped away at the near post.
But it was City who took a 29th minute lead with a classic break. Albrighton hared down the left and delivered a cross into the goalmouth, which Vardy sidefooted home from four yards, having slipped between two defenders.

City pressed forward again, and this time it was Fuchs who delivered a good cross from the left, Okazaki going inches wide with his header.
Loud appeals for a penalty were turned down by referee Mike Dean who recognised that Kolasinac had been a yard away when he struck the ball at Ndidi’s arm.
But City didn’t make it to half time with their lead. After a scramble on the edge of the area Arsenal passed their way through City’s back line, but with the entire City defence appealing for offside, Kolasinac squared for Welbeck who steered the ball past Schmeichel from close range with seconds of the half remaining.

The second half started in more pedestrian fashion than the first, and City created the first real chance when a good ball forward from Mahrez saw Vardy outpacing two defenders, but Cech had timed his run well to come out and sweep up.
Vardy didn’t have long to wait for his second goal of the season, as City regained the lead in the 56th minute. Mahrez delivered a corner from the right and Vardy took advantage of slack marking to rise and direct a header in at the far post.

Arsenal began to press forward and Schmeichel blocked a long range effort from Oxlade-Chamberlain and then smothered an effort from Bellerin at his near post.
The pressure then increased when Arsene Wenger introduced  Ramsey and Giroud to the action. Ramsey immediatley went close with a header, under pressure from Fuchs.
Craig Shakespeare made his first change in the 72nd minute, bringing on Amartey for Okazaki, before Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain both sent shots narrowly wide of the left hand post.
City were fighting a rearguard action, which Shakespeare attempted to relieve by bringing on Iheanacho for James, to give City more presence up front. But it appeared to backfire with the home side equalising in the 83rd minute.
A blatant handball from Ozil wasn’t seen by the referee and from the resulting corner Ramsey was allowed too much space on the right and had time to line up a shot past Schmeichel to level the game.
Worse was to follow two minutes later when Arsenal went ahead, Giroud winning a battle with Maguire to head home from a corner.
It was a heart-breaker for City and their followers, and despite throwing everything forward in five minutes of time added on, they couldn’t find a way through.

The winless run away to Arsenal now stretches to 44 years, but there was plenty to be optimistic about with this performance.

Craig Shakerspeare commented:  “We spoke about being compact and being a threat with the pace of Vardy. We executed that well. We’re disappointed to score three and come away with a defeat.”

Arsenal: Cech, Holding (Giroud 67), Monreal, Kolasinac, Bellerín, Elneny (Ramsey 67), Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Özil, Welbeck (Walcott 75), Lacazette.
Subs Not Used: Ospina, Iwobi, Mustafi, Coquelin.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs, Mahrez, James (Iheanacho 82), Ndidi, Albrighton (Gray 88), Okazaki (Amartey 72), Vardy.
Substitutes: Chilwell, King, Hamer, Slimani.

Referee: M Dean. Attendance: 59,387.

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The FOX Summer Special 2017 – in the shops now

The 27th annual FOX Summer Special is in the shops or can be ordered online now…

It features: An interview with former City-midfielder Bobby Roberts, a review of the up and down 2016-17 season, ‘On Wednesday Nights…’ a look back at City’s European adventure, the verdict on the latest puma kit, LCFC via the lens of Twitter, a Guide to the Premier League 2017-18, Rewind – to the 1992 Play-Off against Cambridge, Your Favourite Shirts, The Fox Player, Goal and Villain of the season are revealed, Simon Kimber on 375 days of being Champions,  Foxed in the Head reflects on his Sand Kop and other holiday memories, John Hutchinson looks at Elephant Penalties and other sports, the Best of Bentley’s Roof and your letters; and Frank goes to Skeggy…

The most fun you can have for £3.

Bobby Roberts Interview extract…

FOX: Your first professional club was Motherwell, but in those days players often had another trade too…

BR:  Yes, I served my time as an apprentice painter. I did the full five years of that.
It makes me laugh when I hear about players being tired now. We played against Rangers on a Wednesday night at Ibrox, a cup replay. I think only about four Motherwell players were full time, so the rest of us were working. That day I worked from 8 until 4 and then caught the train to Glasgow, we played Rangers, who were all full-time players, and beat them 5-2. There were 85,000 there.
Tired? I know the game is different now, but come on.
When I left work for the game, they told me I couldn’t put in for the full eight hours, only seven hours. “We cannae pay you when you aren’t here.”

FOX: You were from Edinburgh, how did you end up at Motherwell?

BR: The team I played for at under-17s level, the guy who managed us, his father was a Motherwell scout for years, so he sent a lot of players over.

FOX: Was it most players ambition to make a move down to England then?

BR: Well, in my case, I had been friends with Davie Gibson in Edinburgh, and he came down to Leicester and got into the FA Cup Final in his first season down there. Me and a friend flew down to watch the match, thinking they were going to beat Manchester United easily, but they got hammered to be honest. I think they’d played on these terrible pitches through that bad winter and Wembley was just a beautiful surface and I think it suited United better.
But I thought, I’d like a bit of this. Davie had been telling me how good things were at Leicester, and the money was much better in England.
I think most young Scottish players had a burning ambition to play at Wembley. The only way you could that back then was either playing for Scotland against England, or get to the FA Cup Final.
These days there are all sorts of ways to get to play at Wembley, but then it was one or the other.

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Take out a season subscription for £16.95 via Paypal HERE. 

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Leicester agree terms for Sevilla’s Vicente Iborra

City are on the verge of signing midfielder Vicente Iborra, having agreed terms with Sevilla…

The 29 year old played against City in both legs of the Champions League second round last season, and his performances impressed Craig Shakespeare.
Having had a bid of £10.5m turned down, City came in with a second bid thought to be £12m for the versitile 6 ft 3″ midfielder.

Iborra was captain of Sevilla last season, and in his four seasons at Sevilla he scored 30 goals in 172 appearances.

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Leicester confirm Harry Maguire signing

Leicester completed a five-year deal for Hull’s Harry Maguire this afternoon…

The 24-year old defender has completed the deal for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £17m.
Although Hull were relegated from the Premier League, Maguire had an impressive season, with solid defensive stats and a willingness to go forward and have a crack at goal.
The Sheffield-born England under-21 international should be a vital addition to a City defence that had began to look stretched towards the end of the season.

Maguire, the first signing under Craig Shakespeare,  told LCFC TV: “There were a number of clubs interested, but when I met the manager here, he pretty much swayed it into the direction of this club.
He showed me the way that the club is going. It’s on the up and it looks very promising for the future, so credit to the gaffer.”

PHOTO: Simon Kimber.

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Craig Shakespeare takes the Leicester reins

Craig Shakespeare has been appointed as Leicester City manager…

Leicester City’s owners have elected to go down the tried and trusted route, awarding Shakespeare a three-year deal.
The 53 year old has been a constant factor in City’s success of recent years and is very popular with the players.
He won his first five games in charge last season, guided City from the fringes of the relegation battle to a mid-table finish, and also engineered the win over Seville that took the club into the Champions League quarter-finals.

While some fans think this shows a lack of ambition, most are delighted with the appointment, welcoming the continuity, and feeling that Shakespeare has earned the job.

Best of luck Craig.

PHOTO: Simon Kimber.

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Leicester denied top half place by linesman’s flag

Leicester City 1:1 AFC Bournemouth

City rounded off their season as Champions with a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the KPS on Sunday, but they were robbed of a top half finish after Vardy was ruled offside for what should have been the winning goal…

Craig Shakespeare, in what could be his final game in charge, made two changes to his side, bringing in King and Slimani for Amartey and Okazaki.
But City, wearing next season’s kit, were caught napping in the first minute.
As Bournemouth broke upfield, Mousset got past Simpson and Fuchs down the left touchline, Fraser ran on to the loose ball and was upended by Simpson but the ref waved play on. Mousset was following up for a shot which was blocked by Chilwell, but Stanislas was following up to find the net.
This early setback rocked City and another Bournemouth cross zipped across the face of goal with no takers.
City created their first chance in the 9th minute. From a Fuchs long throw Mahrez attempted a spectacular overhead kick. It was headed clear as far as Chilwell, whose first time effort went well off target.

Bournemouth almost went further ahead in the 25th minute, but Schmeichel tipped away a well-struck 22 yarder at full stretch.
City were struggling to get their game together, and didn’t really threaten the Cherries until late in the half.
Vardy sent Mahrez into the area but he was well tackled by Daniels when poised to strike. From the resulting corner Ndidi sent his header straight at Allsop, who gathered at the second attempt.

City got their act together in the second half, and levelled in the 51st minute.
Chilwell swung in a cross from the left, which Slimani nodded back across goal where Vardy was lurking unmarked to prod him his 13th goal of the season from two yards.

Soon after this equaliser Benalouane was lucky not to see a second yellow card after a foul on Fraser, and he was replaced by Amartey.
A minute after this change Vardy appeared to have given City the lead after slicing through the Cherries defence, setting up Slimani, whose shot deflected back for him to net. The linesman halted the celebrations flagging for offside, but replays clearly showed Vardy to be level with his marker.
Vardy had a couple of chances after that, but Allsop denied him, while Slimani sent a volley off target.
Gray replaced Albrighton in the 73rd minute and the winger was given a standing ovation as he left the field, in acknowlegement of his unstinting effort this season.
City pressed forward in search of the winner that would give them a top half finish. Ndidi flashed a long range shot narrowly wide, and Chilwell sliced an effort wide of the near post. The best chance fell for Slimani, in the 85th minute when he rose at the far post to meet a Mahrez free-kick, but his header across goal went inches wide of the right hand upright.

City had to be content with a point and a 12th place finish which, coupled with a Champions League quarter-final place, had to represent a very satisfactory season for a side that had been involved in the relegation scrap for a few months.
For Marcin Wasilewski it was definitely goodbye, and he was given a great send off by the crowd. How many others will follow him out of the door, only time will tell.
Craig Shakespeare didn’t seem to know what the future held for him:  “I’ve read the owner’s programme notes and we’ll sit down – there’s no given time. It is the end of the season and I will wait for that meeting. Of course they have made their decisions for the good of the club and for the future of the club. We’ll sit down and I’ll wait for those discussions.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane (Amartey 59), Fuchs, Chilwell, Mahrez, King, Ndidi, Albrighton (Gray 73), Vardy, Slimani. Subs Not Used: Musa, Kapustka, Okazaki, Zieler, Wasilewski.
Bournemouth: Allsop, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Stanislas, Gosling, Surman, Pugh (Ibe 63), Fraser (Worthington 74), Mousset (Afobe 62). Subs Not Used: Ramsdale, Smith, Cargill, Surridge.

Referee: L Mason. Attendance: 32,000. 

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber.

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Leicester hit for six by Tottenham

Leicester City 1:6 Tottenham Hotspur

City were swept aside by a rampant Tottenham at the KPS on Thursday night, as Harry Kane racked up four goals…

Criag Shakespeare made one change to his side, with Amartey replacing King in midfield, and Huth, Morgan and Drinkwater all on the injury list.
Spurs had the first chance of the night after 5 minutes when Kane played Son in, but Chilwell nipped in to divert his shot wide.
Three minutes later, Son found some room again but sent his shot well over.
A minute after this, Mahrez cruised through a group of four yellow shirts and set up Vardy, whose fierce shot went stright at Lloris.
In a lively end-to-end opening spell, Amartey then saw his shot from the edge of the area deflecting kindly for Lloris to make an easy save.
Spurs should have taken the lead after 15 minutes, but Son still hadn’t adjusted his sights and blazed over with only Schmeichel to beat.

Tottenham were in control of the game by the 20th minute, and Kane turned and delivered a curling effort that went narrowly wide.
The visitors took the lead in the 25th minute. A long ball down the right from Alderweireld saw Fuchs gambling on trying to reach it rather than running back. He didn’t and Son was in on goal, cutting back for Kane to find the net from close in.
Spurs continued to push forward and Schmeichel made a fine save to block an Alli header.
At the other end there were loud appeals for a penlty when Vardy was floored by  Alderweireld in the area, but Michael Oliver waved play on.
Spurs doubled their lead in the 36th minute. Alli flicked the ball over the City defence and the alert Son ran through to volley it home.

City were having a torrid time now, with Spurs well on top. Kane had a shot blocked and Schmeichel saved well from Dier, with no doubt as to which side were most pleased to hear the half time whistle.

Craig Shakespeare made a change at the break, bringing Slimani on for Okazaki, and City looked better in the early stages of the second half.
Benalouane headed a Mahrez corner over the bar, and Albrighton had a shot blocked.
City then pulled a goal back in the 59th minute. Lloris came racing well out of his goal to meet the advancing Vardy and the ball rebounded to Ndidi who squared to Chilwell.
Resisting the urge to take a first time shot at an unguarded goal, the youngster rounded a challenge on the edge of the area and cooly slotted the ball past the defender on the line.
City were back in the game now, but sadly this only lasted for three minutes.
Alderweireld delivered a cross from the right, Wanyama nodded back across goal from the far post and Kane headed home from three yards, to snuff out City’s revival.
Shakespeare made his second change bringing Gray on for Benalouane, and moving Amartey back into defence.
City fell further behind in the 70th minute when Son sidestepped his way past three defenders before finding the bottom right hand corner from the edge of the area.

Gray then sent Slimani in down the left but his shot went straight at Lloris who blocked at the near post.
Musa replaced Vardy with 12 minutes left, but City looked increasingly poor as the game entered the last ten minutes.
After several attempts Kane completed his hat trick in the 89th minute, firing a low shot through Simpson’s legs from the edge of the area.
And he wasn’t done yet, scoring an almost identical goal in the second minute of time added on to complete the six goal rout.

Craig Shakespeare summed up: “There are no positives. We were totally second-best.”
If he can pick his players up off the floor, a win against Bournemouth on Sunday could still see a top half finish from this bizarre season. It might be a big job.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane (Gray 66), Fuchs, Chilwell, Mahrez, Amartey, Ndidi, Albrighton, Okazaki (Slimani 46), Vardy (Musa 78).
Subs Not Used: Kapustka, Zieler, Wasilewski, Moore.
Tottenham: Lloris, Alderweireld, Dier, Vertonghen, Sissoko (Nkoudou 90), Wanyama, Dembele (Lesniak 86), Davies, Alli, Son (Janssen 78), Kane.
Subs Not Used: Vorm, Eriksen, Wimmer, Shashoua.

Referee: M Oliver. Attendance: 31,351.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber.

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